Informer Week 2 Term 2 2021
From Our Principal...
Dear Families
Did you know that an eagle can foresee when a storm is approaching long before it breaks?
Instead of hiding, the eagle will fly to some high point and wait for the winds to come.
When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind can pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle soars above it.
The eagle does not escape or hide from the storm instead it uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the stormy winds which others dread.
When the storm of life or challenges hit us, we can rise above them and soar like the eagle which ride the winds of the storm. Don’t be afraid of the storms or the challenges in your life. Use it to lift you higher in your life. (https://alltimeshortstories.com/short-stories-about-life/)
Thank you for the presence our school showed at both Dawn Service and the ANZAC day march on Sunday. It is a proud Principal moment, to see all our students and families participating and keep the importance of the day at the forefront. The importance and significance of the day is an important lesson for every generation.
As you have probably already heard, Mrs. Clarke will be finishing at St John’s on 14 May and beginning the next exciting chapter of life. Mrs. Melissa Davies will be joining us in the office as of this week.
Have a great week and hug your kids.
Jamie Emerick
Principal
APRE News...
Jesus as Shepherd
This week’s reading talks of Jesus saying “I am the good shepherd who is wiling to die for the sheep…..I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” A shepherd, in the time of Jesus would often sleep out with his sheep to protect them from wolves. He knew each of his sheep and they would willingly follow him wherever he led them. Jesus likened himself to a shepherd and we, his followers, are his sheep. Just as the shepherd will go in search of a missing sheep, or do whatever it takes to protect his sheep, so too does our God know us individually and seeks to guide us back to him when we stray. He welcomes us joyfully, just as a shepherd celebrates, when his lost sheep is found.
ANZAC Day – Lest we forget
This year, we focus on the importance of commemoration for our local communities. Why do we gather in increasing numbers on ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day?
We do this to ensure that the sacrifice our service men and women over many years, who served protecting our country and our freedom, is never forgotten. We do it to recognise and show respect to past, current and future service men and women.
We honour the fallen, those who made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives as well as all those who served in some capacity and who may have returned permanently injured both physically and mentally.
When we commemorate and honour the ANZAC spirit, we are not glorifying war, but rather remembering the tragedies of war and their consequences, which will help commit us to ensuring we personally live lives promoting peace in all our relationships and that peaceful solutions are the first preference.
We give thanks to all those, who have served to promote and protect peace in the world.
Lest we forget.
Anzac Ceremony
Sacrament of Confirmation and First Holy Communion
Many of our children are currently preparing to receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion. We pray for them and their families as they travel this faith journey together.
Each class at St John’s has been allocated the name of one of our students preparing for these sacraments, so they can accompany them on their faith journey through praying for them daily.
From the Parish Office
Thank you for enrolling your child/children in the Sacrament of Confirmation and First Communion. Next week we begin Week 1 of our Confirmation Preparation.
Friday 30 April, Formation (Session 1) at 4PM in the Parish Hall at 38, Herbert Street, Gladstone.
Please arrive at 3:45 PM for a 4 PM start.
During this session, we will work on Chapters 1 and 2 in the book – Remember Baptism and Called by Name. This session is to be attended by the candidate/s and a parent/family member above 18 years. Please complete the activity on Page 11 before coming.
There will be a small afternoon tea for the children so please remember to pack a water bottle.
I would appreciate it if you could RSVP as soon as possible.
If you miss this session, there will be a repeat session at St. Peter Chanel Church in Tannum Sands next week.
Presentation of Candidates and Apostle’s Creed
Saturday, 1 May, at 6PM Mass, St. Peter Chanel Church, Tannum Sands.
Sunday, 2 May, 8AM or 6PM Mass, Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish, Gladstone.
Please attend any one Mass.
I look forward to seeing you there and continuing this faith journey with you and your children.
Contact Maria at the Parish Office on 4972 1025.
MJR
Did You Know
In the early church, Christians were persecuted by the Roman Empire. The Christians used the secret symbol of a fish to recognise friend from foe and to mark meetings places and tombs. It was a non-verbal means of recognition, fearing they may be overheard by their persecutors when worshipping Christ.
Thought for the week!
It is a strange thing, but I have noticed that even a blind man notices when he is in the presence of a great light. The world needs you to be such a light. Rediscover Catholicism Matthew Kelly
Parish News...
APC News...
Student Voice
With the majority of our classrooms being newly built or refurbished, our students have an opportunity to give input into the classroom set-up and design. Whilst the floorplans are not negotiable, the soft furnishings, furniture purchasing, colour selection, and set-up most certainly are.
So, our Student Voice focus for the next few weeks is to have our students think and share how they would like their classrooms designed to suit them, for their best learning.
Students can list their ideas and/or requests or draw up a classroom design and put it in the Student Voice letterbox!
Mother's Day Stall 2021
Cross Country
2021 Cross Country Wrap-Up
Congratulations to all of our students for putting in their very best in our 2021 Cross Country race. It was wonderful to have families back onsite at St John’s cheering on our students as they raced.
For our Prep students it was their very first Cross Country race and for our Year 6 students, it was their last race in a primary school setting. From our 5 year olds to our 12 year olds, all of our students persisted in a race that is hard work.
It was wonderful to see everyone cheering on and encouraging their peers and for pushing themselves to achieve their personal best.
As always I thank our brilliant parent (and grandparents!) community for always supporting our students in all aspects of school life here at St John’s and to our teachers to helping make it a smooth and enjoyable event for all.
The top five finishers in each age group were as follows:
Cross Country Day
Challenge Cup Netball Selections
Congratulations to the following students who were selected in the St John’s Challenge Cup Netball Team:
Hayley Kirk
Maddie Whittaker
Laylah Rogers
Summer Turner
Amaya Hodgson
Tofunmi Kaka
Sophie Maitland
Imogen Stoneley
Annabelle Bryce
Flu Season Reminder
As you are aware every year Queensland experiences an influenza or flu season. As we enter this season it is timely to remind parents and care-givers not to be complacent about flu. Queensland Health advises that where possible, people need to be vaccinated for the flu every year.
Flu is a virus more serious than the common cold and can be spread through talking, coughing and sneezing. Symptoms include sudden fever, dry cough, muscle aches and pains, fatigue, headache, sore throat and a stuffy or runny nose.
If your child has flu-like symptoms, the following is advised:
- Keep your child home from school;
- Ensure your child washes their hands regularly with soap and water or sanitiser gel;
- Encourage your children when coughing or sneezing, to cover their mouth and nose with disposable tissues which should be disposed of immediately;
- Ensure they drink plenty of fluids and get lots of rest;
- Consult your doctor if you are concerned about their symptoms.
Queensland Health Guidelines advise that individuals displaying flu like symptoms should stay at home until such symptoms have passed (normally 5-7 days).
Families should also reinforce the recommended protective actions listed above.
Increased awareness and ongoing attention to prevention and control measures, such as vaccination and good hygiene, are steps that we can all promote to reduce the impact of influenza.
St John's Way Awards
Our St John’s App Is Live!
We are very excited to announce that the St John’s is live and ready for parents to download to their devices.
Please follow the instructions step-by-step for downloading the St John’s App. The one-off St John’s set-up passcode is 8892.
Additionally, to download the St John’s App to your iPad, laptop or PC, please follow the following link - https://stjohnclinton.schoolzineplus.com/subscribe
Once you have downloaded the App you will see we now have a one-stop-shop for all information you need to stay informed at St John’s.
In the top banner you will see Home, Feed and Manage.
Home will take you to the tiles and Feed will take you to alerts/messages (as Dojo did).
The latest ‘feed’ will be displayed on the home screen above the tiles.
The ‘’tiles’’ we have used are as follows:
- Parent Lounge – takes you straight to the Parent Lounge sign-in page
- Latest Newsletter – each week the newsletter will be uploaded to this tile
- Website – takes you straight to our website
- Forms and Documents – in this tile the following documents have been uploaded – simply tap on the link:
Parent Handbook
School Uniform
Behaviour Management
Fees and Levies Schedule
ICT Code of Practice
Tuckshop Menu
- School Calendar – all key dates for the upcoming term (continually updated)
- Tuckshop – takes you straight to the online tuckshop log-in page
- OSHC – links to required forms
- School Contact – takes you straight to our phone contact
- Facebook - takes you straight to our Facebook page
- Seesaw – Our new ‘Dojo’’ – please note that this is still a work in progress
- Newsletter Archive – each weekly newsletter will be archived to this tile for referral where required
- Subscribe to Newsletter – please note that all existing families will be automatically uploaded to this new platform. This tile is for new families in the future
While we feel we have covered all bases, things can be overlooked so we look forward to your feedback or suggestions on information that would be a benefit to be included. As always your feedback is valued; please email Jakki Graham at Jakki_graham@rok.catholic.edu.au
Prep 2022
We strongly urge all our existing families who have younger siblings at home who are born between 1 July 2016 and 30 June 2017 to please visit our school website and click on the enrolment link and complete our online enrolment form.
It is imperative that our school receives all sibling enrolments as early in the year as possible. Should you have any technical issues completing the enrolment form online, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
Tuckshop Menu
An updated Tuckshop Menu will be published on our new school App and in next weeks newsletter.
Tuckshop Specials
Tuckshop Volunteers Needed
Our tuckshop urgently needs volunteers to help on Wednesdays, Thursdays and especially Fridays. If you can help out could you please let us know so that we can arrange an induction with Mrs Graham.
As per guidelines, all volunteers need to sign in at the office, follow COVID hygiene and distancing practices and have completed the 2022 Volunteer Induction.
Please also note that our tuckshop ordering is ALL via the online system at https://www.quickcliq.com.au
